> What about the apparent majority today who can't accept a machine
> being "conscious"?

So many people like Kurzweil, Dennitt... make this same
assumption that this will be a problem. I think this is a gross,
obvious, and stupid mistake, especially for such intelligent people to
make. It seems so obvious to me that when we discover what and how
consciousness really is and start effing quale and stuff (as when the
artificial entity finally honestly says: "Oh !THATS! what salt tastes
like"...), it will be as hard to deny what is and is not conscious as
it is to today say the world is flat. Those willing to travel to
space to see the round earth or those willing to augment their brain
so they can eff, share, and increase their consciousness, will know
for sure what and how something is or is not conscious.

If we want a meek uploaded consciousness, we'll just design
and make one (or alter ourselves to be that way) right? We'll be able
to make it enjoy or produce joyful conscious qualia from any stimulus
we want. Being able to do this to ourselves, or to be able to
determine what it is we want, is what I consider true free will to be.
Imagine how much paper work I could get done if I could make it all be
orgasmick!? ;)